TAP TECHNICAL DATA

TAP
TYPICAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE
TAP TYPE TAP TYPE * TAP
PERIPHERAL
TYPE GRADE LUBRICANTS
HARDNESS TONS PER SPEED
N/mm² THROUGH BLIND THROUGH BLIND
BRINELL SQ INCH m/min
HOLE HOLE HOLE HOLE

FREE CUTTING 150 33 500 10-15

0.3 to 0.4% Carbon 170 38 570

CARBON Gun Spiral Straight Straight 8-12 Sulphur
0.3 to 0.4% Carbon 248 54 800
STEEL Nose Flute Flute Flute based oil

T E C H N I CAL DATA ALLOY

STEEL
0.4 to 0.7% Carbon
0.4 to 0.7% Carbon

Tough
206
286

248
330
44
63

54
74
650
95

810
1100
Gun
Nose
Spiral
Flute
Straight
Flute
Straight
Flute
8-10

8-12
Sulphur
based oil
Hard 380 82 1250

CBA TAP TECHNICAL DATA Martensitic Free Cutting

248 54 810
Martensitic Std. Grade Heavy duty
SPEED M/MIN TAP TYPE STAINLESS Gun Spiral Straight Straight
TENSILE NORMAL 2-6 Sulphur
HARDNESS STEEL Nose Flute Flute Flute
STRENGTH Austenitic Free Cutting based oil
MATERIAL TYPES CHIP RED BLUE YELLOW WHITE GREEN As Supplied
HB (N/mm²) UNCOATED COATED
FORM BAND BAND BAND BAND BAND Austenitic Std. Grade

Free Cutting steels #120 #400 extra long 12 18 - 27

X NIMONIC
ALLOYS
Wrought 300 67 1000
See CBA Tap section 2-4
Chlorinated
oil
Structural steel. Case carburizing steel #200 #700 middle/long 12 18 - 27
X Cast 350 78 1170

STEEL
Plain Carbon steel #250 #850 long 10 18 - 24 X Titanium Comm: Pure
Titanium Comm: Pure
170
200
38
43
570
650
Alloy steel >250 #850 long 10 18 - 24
Titanium Comm: Pure 275 65 975 See CBA Tap section Chlorinated
TITANIUM 2-4
oil
Alloy steel. Hardened and tempered steel >250 >850 long 8 9 - 15 Titanium Alloyed 340 76 1140
#350 #1200
Titanium Alloyed 380 85 1275
Alloy steel. Hardened and tempered steel >350 >1200 long 5 9 -15
HSS Standard / Cobalt Grades 225 48 720
Free machining Stainless steel #250 #850 middle 9 18 - 24 X TOOL
STEEL
Gun
Nose
Spiral
Flute
Straight
Flute
Straight
Flute
8-10
Sulphur
based oil
STAINLESS Hot / Cold Working Steel 225 54 810
Austenitic #250 #850 long 6 9 - 15
STEEL
As Supplied Gun Straight Straight - Sulphur
Ferritic + Austenitic, Ferritic, Martensitic #300 #1000 long 5 8 - 15 MANGANESE STEEL Nose Flute Flute
15-20
based oil

Lamellar graphite #150 #500 extra short 11 18 - 27 X Grey

Ductile
240 52 780 5-10
Dry soluble
>150 >500 CAST Straight Straight Gun

CAST IRON
Lamellar graphite
#300 #1000
extra short 8 9 - 18
X IRONS
Maleable
Flute Flute Nose
- oil or
paraffin
330 74 1110 4-8
Nodular graphite, Malleable Cast Iron #200 #700 middle/short 11 18 - 27
X X Hardened & Tempered

Nodular graphite, Malleable Cast Iron >200 >700 Long Chip 20-25 Soluble oil
#300 #100
middle/short 8 9 - 18 ALUMINIUM As Supplied Gun Spiral
Fluteless Fluteless or light
ALLOYS Short Chip Nose Flute 10-15 material oil
Titanium, unalloyed # 200 #700 extra long 8 9 - 15
As Supplied Gun Spiral Straight Straight Sulphur
MANGANESE ALLOYS 15-20
TITANIUM Titanium, alloyed #270 #900 middle/short 9 12 - 18
X Nose Flute Flute
Straight
Flute
Straight
based oil
Soluble
>270 >900
Titanium, alloyed
#350 #1200
middle/short 6 6 - 12
X ZINC ALLOYS As Supplied Fluteless Fluteless
Flute Flute
15-20
oil

Nickel, unalloyed #150 #500 extra long 9 12 - 18

X Brass Free Cutting
Brass Low Lead Fluteless Fluteless
Straight Straight
15-20
25-30 Soluble oil
Flute Flute
NICKEL Nickel, alloyed #270 #900 long 5 6 - 12
X X Bronze Silicon 10-12 or light
mineral oil
>270 >900
Nickel, alloyed
#350 #1200
long 4 5 - 11
X Bronze Manganese
Gun
Nose
Straight
Flute
Straight
Flute
Straight
Flute
3-5
COPPER
Copper #100 #350 extra long 11 15 - 24 X ALLOYS
Copper Free Machining As Supplied
Fluteless Fluteless
Gun
Nose
Gun
Nose
15-20
Copper Electrolytic 8-12
COPPER
Beta Brass, Bronze #200 #700 middle/short 30 43 - 55 X X Chlorinated
oil or soluble
oil
Bronze Aluminium 10-12
Alpha Brass #200 #700 long 18 40 - 49
X Bronze Commercial Gun Straight Straight Straight 3-5
High strength Bronze #470 #1500 short 5 6 - 12 Nose Flute Flute Flute
Soluble oil or
Bronze Phosphor 3-5
light mineral oil
Al, Mg, unalloyed #100 #350 extra long 15 24 - 30 X Soft 4-7
ALUMINIUM Al alloyed Si < 0.5% #150 #500 middle 30 43 - 52 X PLASTICS Hard
As Supplied Straight
Flute
Straight
Flute
Gun
Nose
- Dry
MAGNESIUM
Al alloyed, Si > 0.5% < 10% #120 #400 middle/short 18 30 - 36 X X Reinforced
12-15

Al alloyed, Si > 10%, Al-alloys, Mg-alloys #120 #400 short 15 24 - 30 X X * Tapping speeds for fluteless taps are 2-3 times higher then the recommended speeds given
Thermoplastics - - extra long 27 -
X
SYNTHETIC
MATERIALS
Thermosetting plastics - - short 11 15 - 21
X
Reinforced plastic materials - - extra short 8 9 - 15
X TAP TERMINOLOGY THREAD FORMS TAP PERIPHERAL SPEED TO rpm CONVERSION CHART
Metres/Min 4 6 8 9 10 12 15 18 21 25 27 30 36
SIZE OF SQUARE 60°
ACROSS FLATS Tap Size
REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE
mm inch
FLAT
LENGTH

RECOMMENDED DRILL SIZES FOR TAPPING TAPPING PROBLEMS: CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS B B
1.6 1/16 800 1194 1592 1791 1988 2386 2983 3579 4176 4971 5369 5965 7158
1.8 708 1065 1415 1598 1768 2121 2652 3182 3712 4419 4773 5303 6364
METRIC AND UNIFIED
SIZE | NOMINAL Pitch DRILL SIZE SIZE | NOMINAL Pitch DRILL SIZE SIZE | NOMINAL Pitch DRILL SIZE Damaged tap threads in the hole (e) Possible Cause 2 637 955 1274 1433 1591 1909 2386 2863 3341 3977 4295 4773 5727
SECTION B-B
DIAMETER TPI IN mm DIAMETER TPI IN mm DIAMETER TPI IN mm (a) Possible Cause The drilled hole is too small. 2.2 3/32 579 869 1158 1303 1446 1736 2169 2603 3037 3616 3905 4339 5207
Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. Solution 55° 2.5 510 764 1019 1147 1274 1527 1909 2291 2673 3182 3436 3818 4582
LAND
Solution Use the recommended drill size. 3 1/8 425 637 849 955 1061 1273 1591 1909 2227 2651 2864 3182 3818
METRIC COARSE * Fluteless Tapping Drill Sizes
Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole 3.5 364 546 728 819 909 1091 1364 1636 1909 2273 2455 2727 3273
M1 0.25 0.75 (0.9*) M7 1 6 M27 3 24 (25.5*) before starting to tap. Over-Heating of tap SHANK FLUTE CUTTING 4 5/32 318 478 637 718 796 955 1193 1432 1671 1989 2148 2387 2864
M1.2 0.25 0.95 (1.1*) M8 1.25 6.8 (7.4*) M30 3.5 26.5 (28.2*) (b) Possible Cause (a) Possible Cause DIAMETER FACE 4.5 283 425 566 637 707 849 1061 1273 1485 1768 1909 2122 2546
OVERALL LENGTH

M1.4 0.3 1.1 (1.27*) M9 1.25 7.8 M32 3.5 28.5 The tap is too dull Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant. BSW 5 3/16 255 382 510 573 637 764 955 1146 1337 1591 1719 1909 2292
M1.6 0.35 1.25 (1.45*) M10 1.5 8.5 (9.3*) M33 3.5 29.5 (31.2*) Solution Solution 6 1/4 212 319 425 477 530 636 795 954 1113 1326 1432 1592 1909
Use a tap which is in good condition. Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of WEB
M2 0.4 1.6 (1.85*) M11 1.5 9.5 M36 4 32 (33.9*) THICKNESS 7 9/32 182 273 364 409 455 546 682 818 955 1136 1227 1364 1636
M2.5 0.45 2.05 (2.3*) M12 1.75 10.2 (11.2*) M39 4 35 (36.9*) (c) Possible Cause lubricant to the cutting area. 47½°
SECTION A-A 8 5/16 159 239 319 358 398 477 597 716 835 994 1074 1193 1432
M3 0.5 2.5 (2.8*) M14 2 12 (13*) M42 4.5 37.5 (39.6*) Work hardened skin in the drilled hole. (b) Possible Cause
9 142 212 283 318 354 425 531 637 742 885 955 1061 1293
M3.5 0.6 2.9 (3.2*) M16 2 14 (15*) M45 4.5 40.5 (42.6*) Solution The tap is too dull.
Work hardening can be avoided when drilling by Solution 10 3/8 127 191 255 286 318 382 477 573 668 795 859 955 1146
M4 0.7 3.3 (3.7*) M18 2.5 15.5 (16.8*) M48 5 43 11 116 174 232 260 289 347 434 868 1041
using the correct speeds, and coolants. Use serial Use a tap which is in good condition. 521 608 723 781
M4.5 0.75 3.7 (4.2*) M20 2.5 17.5 (18.8*) M52 5 47
taps. (c) Possible Cause 12 1/2 106 159 212 238 265 318 398 477 557 663 716 796 955
M5 0.8 4.2 (4.65*) M22 2.5 19.5 (20.8*) M56 5.5 50.5 p BA 13 98 147 196 220 245 294 367 441 514 612 661 734 881
THREAD LENGTH

M6 1 5 (5.55*) M24 3 21 (22.5*) (d) Possible Cause Using the incorrect tap.
Incorrect rake angle Solution 14 9/16 91 136 182 205 277 273 341 409 477 568 614 682 818
A A 30°
METRIC FINE * Fluteless Tapping Drill Sizes Solution Use the recommended tap. 16 5/8 80 119 159 179 199 239 298 358 418 497 537 597 716
Use the recommended tap for the material. (d) Possible Cause 18 71 106 141 159 177 212 265 318 371 442 477 530 636
MF2 0.25 1.75 MF12 1.25 10.75 (11.45*) MF27 2
CHAMFER

25 Excessive tapping speed is applied. 20 3/4 64 96 127 143 159 191 239 286 334 398 430 477 573
MF2.5 0.35 2.15 MF12 1.5 10.5 (11.3*) MF30 1.5 28.5 Poor finish of the thread Solution n 22 7/8 58 87 116 130 145 174 217 260 304 362 391 434 521
LEAD

MF3 0.35 2.65 MF14 1.25 12.75 (13.4*) MF30 2 28 (a) Possible Cause Use the recommended tapping speed. 24 1" 53 80 106 119 133 159 199 239 275 331 353 398 477
MF3.5 0.35 3.15 MF14 1.5 12.5 (13.3*) MF32 1.5 30.5 Using the incorrect tap. TRAPEZOIDAL 27 47 71 94 106 118 141 177 212 245 295 318 354 424
MF4 0.5 3.5 MF16 1 15 MF33 1.5 31.5 Solution Over-size tapped hole 30 1.1/8 43 64 85 95 106 127 159 191 223 265 286 318 382
MF4.5 0.5 4 MF16 1.5 14.5 (15.3*) MF36 1.5 34.5 Use the recommended tap. (a) Possible Cause 29° 33 1.1/4 39 58 77 87 96 116 145 174 203 241 360 289 347
MF5 0.5 4.5 MF18 1.5 16.5 (17.3*) MF36 2 34 (b) Possible Cause Using the incorrect tap. NOMINAL 36 35 53 71 80 88 106 133 159 186 221 239 265 318
MF6 0.5 5.5 MF18 2 16 MF39 1.5 37.5 The drilled hole is too small. Solution DIAMETER LEAD 39 1.1/2 33 49 73 98 245 294
65 82 122 147 171 204 220
MF6 0.75 5.25 MF20 1.5 18.5 (19.3*) MF40 1.5 38.5 Solution Use the recommended tap. ANGLE
ROOT p = PITCH 42 30 46 61 68 76 91 114 186 159 189 205 227 273
MF7 0.75 6.25 MF20 2 18 MF42 1.5 40.5 Use the recommended drill size. (b) Possible Cause DIAMETER
(c) Possible Cause Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. n = No. OF THREADS 45 1.3/4 28 42 57 64 71 85 106 127 149 177 191 212 255
MF8 0.75 7.25 MF22 1.5 20.5 (21.3*) MF45 1.5 43.5 ACME
The tap is too dull. Solution
PER INCH 48 27 40 53 60 66 80 99 119 139 166 179 199 239
MF8 1 7 (7.55*) MF22 2 20 MF48 1.5 46.5
Solution Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole 52 24 37 49 55 61 73 92 110 129 153 165 184 220
MF9 1 8 MF24 1.5 22.5 (23.3*) MF50 1.5 48.5
MF10 1 9 (9.55*) MF24 2 22 MF52 1.5 50.5 Use a tap which is in good condition. before starting to tap. Abbreviations for Standard Thread Forms 56 2" 23 34 46 51 57 68 85 102 119 142 153 170 205
MF10 1.25 8.75 (9.45*) MF25 1.5 23.5 (d) Possible Cause (c) Possible Cause BA - British Association BSF - British Standard Whitworth Fine NPS - National Pipe Straight
MF12 1 11 (11.55*) MF25 2 23 Insufficient number of threads on the lead. Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant. BSB - British Standard Brass BSW - British Standard Whitworth NPT - National Pipe Taper FORMULA FOR CALCULATING rpm
Solution Solution BSP - British Standard Pipe (Fine) "G" Series M - Metric Coarse UNC - Unified National Coarse Dia (mm) x p
BSW Use a tap with the correct lead. Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of BSPT - British Standard Pipe Taper ("Rc" Series) MF - Metric Fine UNF - Unified National Fine rpm = Surface Speed (metres/min) ÷
1000
(e) Possible Cause lubricant to the cutting area.
3/32 48 1.9 3/8 16 8 1" 8 22 Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. (d) Possible Cause
1/8 40 2.55 7/16 14 9.3 1.1/8 7 25 Solution Incorrect rake angle.
5/32 32 3.2 1/2 12 10.5 1.1/4 7 28 Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole Solution
3/16 24 3.7 9/16 12 12.2 1.1/2 6 34 before starting to tap. Use the recommended tap for the material.
7/32 24 4.5 5/8 11 13.5 1.3/4 5 39 (f) Possible Cause
1/4 20 5.1 3/4 10 16.5 2” 4.5 45 Incorrect rake angle Tap binding in the hole
5/16 18 6.5 7/8 9 19.5 Solution (a) Possible Cause MAIN TYPES OF TAPS AND THEIR USES
Use the recommended tap for the material. Using the incorrect tap.
BSF Solution Short Hand Taps Spiral Flute Tap such as aluminium and zinc alloys as the threads are cold formed, not cut like
3/16 32 4 7/16 18 9.8 7/8 11 19.5 Torn threads in the tapped hole Use the recommended tap. a conventional tap. For slightly tougher materials fluteless taps in the range of
7/32 28 4.7 1/2 16 11 1" 10 22.5 (a) Possible Cause (b) Possible Cause 5mm to 12mm can be supplied with a gash.
1/4 26 5.4 9/16 16 12.7 1.1/8 9 25.5 The flutes are clogged by chips. The drilled hole is too small.
5/16 22 6.8 5/8 14 14 1.1/4 9 29 Solution Solution These taps are designed for machine tapping in ductile materials, “Fluteless”
3/8 20 8.3 3/4 12 16.5 1.1/2 8 34.5 Use a spiral point or a spiral flute tap. Use the recommended drill size. taps have no flutes or cutting faces, but have special roll forming lobes with
(b) Possible Cause (c) Possible Cause This regular type is the basic tap designed as a general purpose tool for hand circular lands and have long or short taper leads for through or blind holes.
UNC Distortion of the walls in a thin walled workpiece. Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant. and machine operation. As this basic tap will give acceptable performance in
Solution Solution most materials and for short production runs, it is usually the most Blue Band
No.3 2.51 48 2 5/16 18 6.6 1" 8 22 Use a multi-fluted tap. Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of
7 economical tap to use. However, it performs best in materials where the Mainly for work in blind holes and on ductile materials, such as aluminium and
No.4 2.84 40 2.25 3/8 16 8 1.1/8 25 (c) Possible Cause lubricant to the cutting area. cutting action results in chips which break up readily and do not present zinc alloys, which produce long stringy chips. The taps have a 15° or 35° right
No.5 3.18 40 2.6 7/16 14 9.4 1.1/4 7 28 The threads on the tap are broken. (d) Possible Cause problems of chip disposal. hand helix. The flute shape eliminates clogging and jamming, resulting in
No.6 3.51 32 2.75 1/2 13 10.8 1.3/8 6 31 Solution The flutes are clogged with chips. improved tap life.
No.8 4.17 32 3.4 9/16 12 12.2 1.1/2 6 34 Use a tap which is in good condition. Solution The regular hand tap has four flutes in sizes larger than 1/4 inch diameter.
No.10 4.83 24 3.8 5/8 11 13.5 1.3/4 5 39 (d) Possible Cause Use a spiral point or a spiral flute tap. These taps may not be suitable because of inadequate chip space when These taps are designed primarily for machine tapping of blind holes, are
No.12 5.49 24 4.4 3/4 10 16.5 2” 4.5 45 Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant. (e) Possible Cause deep or blind holes have to be tapped in soft stringy materials. This applies used to the best advantage in materials which produce long stringy chips. The Designed for tough materials, such as Stainless Steel, Titanium Alloys, Cast
1/4 20 5.1 7/8 9 19.5 Solution Incorrect rake angle. particularly to the coarser pitch threads such as BSW and UNC. If a gun tap shearing action provided by the spiral flutes produces a better finish on Steel, Heat Resisting Steel and Work Hardening Steel. Used to tap materials
Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of Solution or spiral fluted tap cannot be used, a three fluted tap which permits extra chip difficult to machine metals and causes the chips to be drawn back, eliminating with hardness up to 350HB, tensile strength up to 1250N/mm².
UNF lubricant to the cutting area. Use the recommended tap for the material. space, is recommended. clogging at the cutting chamfer.
(e) Possible Cause Truncated thread after lead reduces frictional contact with the threaded hole
No.3 2.51 56 2.1 1/4 28 5.5 7/8 14 20.5
Using the incorrect or unsuitable tap for the Flutes clogged with chips and allows easier penetration of coolant. Spiral flute taps have 40° right hand
No.4 2.84 48 2.35 5/16 24 6.9 1" 12 23.5 material. (a) Possible Cause
No.5 3.18 44 2.65 3/8 24 8.5 1.1/8 12 26.5 Serial Hand Taps Pipe Taps helix allowing tough material swarf to be efficiently removed from the hole.
Solution Using the incorrect tap. Supplied as standard with TiAIN coating.
No.6 3.51 40 2.9 7/16 20 9.8 1.1/4 12 29.5 Use the recommended tap for the material. Solution
No.8 4.17 36 3.5 1/2 20 11.5 1.3/8 12 32.5 (f) Possible Cause Use a spiral point or spiral flute tap.
No.10 4.83 32 4.1 9/16 18 12.8 1.1/2 12 36 Rougher Green Band
Tap hitting the bottom of the hole. (b) Possible Cause
No.12 5.49 28 4.6 5/8 18 14.5 Solution Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant.
3/16 32 4 3/4 16 17.5 Allow sufficient clearance at the bottom of the Solution For machine use on pipe work for parallel threads.
hole. Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of
BSP (g) Possible Cause lubricant to the cutting area.
Intermediate
1/8 28 8.8 5/8 14 21 1.1/4 11 40 Incorrect rake angle.
1/4 19 11.8 3/4 14 24.5 1.1/2 11 45.5 Solution Tap Breakage
3/8 19 15.5 7/8 14 28.5 1.3/4 11 51.5 Use the recommended tap for the material. (a) Possible Cause
1/2 14 19 1” 11 31 2” 11 57 Using the incorrect tap. For machine use on pipe work for tapered threads. The machinebility of different steels is just as varied as their properties. Soft-
Excessive Tap Wear Solution Finisher tough construction steels place completely different demands on the tools,
BSPT (a) Possible Cause Use the recommended tap. Pipe taps are supplied with PARALLEL threads or with TAPER threads. These and the green band combination of taps has been perfected for this range of
Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. (b) Possible Cause taps are shorter than a similar size of regular hand tap, but the design steels.
1/8 28 8.6 1/2 14 18.5 1.1/4 11 39 Solution The tap is too dull.
1/4 19 11.5 3/4 14 24 1.1/2 11 45 Serial taps comprise of one or more undersized roughing taps which remove features are the same. They are suitable for hand or machine use.
Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole Solution most of the material before final sizing with a finishing tap. Green Band characteristics include ability to machine materials with hardness
3/8 19 15 1” 11 30.25 2” 11 56.5 before starting to tap. Use a tap which is in good condition. up to 250HB, tensile strength up to 900N/mm². Surface finish - TiN Coating
(b) Possible Cause (c) Possible Cause
NPS Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant. The drilled hole is too small.
Some reasons for using serial taps are: Colour Band Application (CBA) Taps (standard) increases surface hardness of the tool to around 85RC, with
(a) The toughness of the material being tapped. The primary benefit of the CBA range is enhanced threading performance due excellent resistance to abrasion and cold welding. Thread and flute
1/8 27 9.1 1/2 14 19 1.1/4 11.5 39.4 Solution Solution (b) The amount of material to be removed could cause swarf choking with a to geometry designed for specific material application groups. The result is an configuration design for free cutting and structural steels in the general
1/4 18 12 3/4 14 24.5 1.1/2 11.5 45.5 Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of Use the recommended drill size. single tap. improved quality of finish and an increased number of holes per tap, giving purpose range of medium tensile strengths.
3/8 18 15.5 1" 11.5 30.5 2” 11.5 57.5 lubricant to the cutting area. (d) Possible Cause (c) The very small tolerance on pitch diameter. extended tap life and reduced cost per hole. Manufactured from HSSE-V3
(c) Possible Cause The drilled hole is too shallow. (d) An extremely good finish required. steel (High Vanadium) for greater wear resistance. Red Band
NPT The material is abrasive. Solution
Solution Allow clearance at the bottom of the hole when Yellow Band
1/8 27 8.4 1/2 14 17.5 1.1/4 11.5 37.5 (i) Use the correct type of tap. drilling.
1/4 18 11 3/4 14 23 1.1/2 11.5 43.5 Short MachineTaps
(ii) Use a surface treated tap. (e) Possible Cause
3/8 18 14.25 1” 11.5 29 2” 11.5 55.5 (d) Possible Cause Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. Gun Nose (Spiral Point) Tap
Using the incorrect tap. Solution
BA Solution Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole Designed for high tensile materials such as Tool Steels, Heat Treatable
12 1.3 90.1 1.05 7 2.5 52.9 2.05 3 4.1 34.8 3.4 (i) Use a tap with the correct lead. before starting to tap. Steels, Spring Steel, Case Hardening Steel, Unalloyed Titanium, Nitriding
10 1.7 72.6 1.4 6 2.8 47.9 2.3 2 4.7 31.3 3.9 (ii) Use a surface treated tap. (f) Possible Cause For machine use on through holes. Suitable for a wide range of materials. Designed for more ductile materials such as Aluminium, Magnesium Alloys, Steel, Cold Drawn Constructional Steel and High Tensile Steel.
9 1.9 65.1 1.55 5 3.2 43.1 2.65 1 5.3 28.2 4.5 (e) Possible Cause The flutes are clogged with chips. The gun nose creates chip disposal ahead of the tap while the flute geometry Soft Brass (MS58), Plastics, Zinc Alloys and Copper. Used to tap materials
8 2.2 59.1 1.8 4 3.6 38.3 3 0 6 25.4 5.1 Incorrect rake angle Solution allows an adequate supply of lubricant to the cutting area, making higher with hardness up to 200HB, tensile strength up to 700N/mm². Used to tap materials with hardness up to 470HB, tensile strength up to
Solution Use a spiral point or spiral flute tap. tapping speed possible. 1500N/mm². Spiral flute taps have 15° right hand helix which efficiently forces
Use the recommended tap for the material. (g) Possible Cause Wide flutes allow more efficient swarf removal which prevents clogging and high tensile material swarf up out of the hole, while still maintaining correct
Excessive tapping speed is applied. Gun nose taps have straight flutes supplemented by angular cutting faces at excessive torque. High rake angle improves shear characteristic and reduces cutting geometry. The red band tap is supplied as standard with TiAlN coating.
Bell-Mouthed Tapped Hole Solution the point. These faces cut with a shearing action which propels the chips build-up on the cutting edge, allowing tap to cut more freely for longer periods.
(a) Possible Cause Use the recommended tapping speed. ahead of the tap leaving the flutes clear for the free flow of coolant to the Spiral flute taps have 40° right hand helix, allowing ductile material swarf to be White Band
Mis-alignment of the tap with the hole. (h) Possible Cause point. efficiently forced out of the hole. The yellow band tap is supplied as standard
Solution The tap holding device is not suitable. in bright condition.
Care must be taken to align the tap with the hole Solution Primarily designed for use in through holes, these taps can be used in blind
before starting to tap. Use the appropriate tapping attachment. holes providing that there is ample clearance beyond the threaded section to Yellow Band Fluteless Taps Designed for highly abrasive materials such as Cast Iron and reinforced
(b) Possible Cause (i) Possible Cause accommodate the chips. The advantages of a gun nose tap are, the shearing plastics. Used to tap materials with hardness up to 300HB, tensile strength up
The workpiece is not rigidly held. The work material is work hardened. action of the angular cutting faces which produce a fine finish on the threads to 1000N/mm². Increased number of flutes reduces torque and increases tap
Solution Solution and, shallower flutes which permit a stronger cross section throughout the life. Taps have 15° right hand helix. The white band tap is TiAlN coated as
Secure the workpiece Use serial taps. tap. For machine use on through or blind holes. Best suited for ductile materials, standard.
(c) Possible Cause (j) Possible Cause
Excessive pressure is applied when starting to tap. Lack of/or the wrong type of lubricant.
Solution Solution
Only sufficient pressure to initiate self-feeding Apply an adequate supply and the correct type of
should be applied. lubricant to the chamfer lead of the tap.
(d) Possible Cause (k) Possible Cause
Insufficient number of threads on the lead. Incorrect rake angle.
Solution Solution
Use a tap with the correct lead. Use the recommended tap for the material.

Manufacturers & Suppliers of Drills, Reamers, End

Mills, Bore Cutters, Taps & Dies, Toolbits, Solid Carbide
Tooling, Carbide Insert Tooling, Custom Tools & Surface Coatings
Tel: Sales: +27 11 390 8700 (Local) • Fax: Sales: +27 11 397 6720/1 (Local) • Email: jhbsales@somta.co.za
Tel: Sales: +27 33 355 6600 (Export) • Fax: Sales: +27 33 394 7509 (Export) • Email: exports@somta.co.za
http://app.somta.co.za Technical information E-mail: tech@somta.co.za • Toll Free Number: 0800 331 399